Andrew Fung says with a concerted effort, the city will overcome difficulties, scale new heights, and create new glories

This year marks the 28th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Hong Kong SAR National Security Law, and the first anniversary of the implementation of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

Now, Hong Kong enjoys a harmonious atmosphere, with patriotic voices resounding loudly. Wearing clothes with the national flag on the streets no longer attracts strange looks since the implementation of national security laws, indicating Hong Kong’s return to being a normal society and an international city.

You would never get strange looks for waving the American flag in New York or London. Yet, before July 2020, this was not the case in Hong Kong, when even promoting national education in the city was  viciously attacked and obstructed. How lamentable.

Today, all evil influences have been kept at bay thanks to the restoration of order facilitated by the central authorities, fulfilling then national leader Deng Xiaoping’s foresight in the 1980s: “Don’t think that if the central government doesn’t interfere in everything, all will be well”. Indeed, in recent years the city faced turmoil that “Hong Kong couldn’t handle”. In hindsight, I deeply admire Deng’s wisdom and foresight. Although various forms of “soft resistance” still exist in Hong Kong today, the situation is not as out of control as in 2019. What Hong Kong needs now is to make good use of its stable situation to vigorously promote socioeconomic development. Hong Kong still has many advantages to leverage, including:

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On May 30, the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation was established in Hong Kong. This is the first intergovernmental organization headquartered in Hong Kong, affirming its status as an international city. Additionally, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which has been established for a decade under the Belt and Road Initiative, plans to set up an office in Hong Kong — another recognition of the city’s status as an international financial center. Global institutions, both financial and rating agencies, highly appraise Hong Kong. It tops the world’s freest economies ranking, was placed third in the global international financial center rankings, and has risen four places in the world competitiveness rankings in the latest survey, returning to the top three, and ranked sixth in the world’s safest cities in 2023.

In higher education, according to the QS 2026 World University Rankings, Hong Kong’s overall higher education ranking has ascended, with remarkable performance: the University of Hong Kong has risen six places to 11th globally, setting the highest ranking in its history and firmly securing the second position in Asia; the Chinese University of Hong Kong has risen four places to 32nd, also a new all-time high; the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has risen three places to 44th; the Hong Kong Polytechnic University climbed three places to 54th; and the City University of Hong Kong was ranked 63rd.

Overall, nine universities in Hong Kong are on the list, with five ranking among the global top 100.

Hong Kong now has the densest concentration of global top universities. Meanwhile, the overall progress rate of Hong Kong universities is 71 percent, the highest in Asia and the second-highest globally.

Higher education has become Hong Kong’s shining “calling card” and another growth driver for its economy. No wonder Xia Baolong, director of the central government’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, met with the vice chancellors of Hong Kong’s universities during his inspection trip to the city, demonstrating the central government’s support for the SAR.

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Of course, many challenges remain as Hong Kong moves forward to greater prosperity. For example, the city’s retail sector has been significantly affected by online shopping, and the catering industry, for various reasons, is indeed not as vibrant as it is in neighboring Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities such as Shenzhen and Zhongshan. For value for money, consumers naturally choose neighboring Greater Bay Area cities over Hong Kong — an inevitable result of social changes and rapid technological advancements.  Such challenges have been frequent during the past few decades. However, every time, with the support of the central government, Hong Kong has come through relatively unscathed.

I am confident that as long as Hong Kong residents remain united, proactively pursue reform and innovation, align with national policies, and follow the trends of socioeconomic development and technology, Hong Kong will surely overcome difficulties, scale new heights, and create new glories.

The author is a former information coordinator of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.